Trip Reports - my PIP trip report

Not to let Beckles be the only one, yr ob'dt scrivener reports...

I used NW miles (60k) for the flight ATL-DTW-HNL-SEA (stopover)-MSP-ORD. They were reasonably easy to redeem, had choices of flights (and noticed employees in first class--which follows). Was able to rebook to the open jaw readily, even with the stopover.

Thursday ATL-DTW
Scheduled departure at 920, I misread and thought it was 935. Get to counter at 845 after parking at the office and taking MARTA. I had asked for paper tickets, but never got them, so when rebooking the return the day before, questioned this. She said they'd gotten them back (missing apt #) so supposedly converted them to Etickets. At the counter, they wanted tickets. She had trouble b/c the phone agent hadn't converted properly...This added some stress to the start of the trip, but ultimately got paper for everything.

Humped out to D concourse...wasn't the last person on board, however. F/C full, coach nearly full. Passed basket of snacks (peanuts, pretzels, trail mix all in packets)...choice is a nice touch. In on time, have to walk the length of DTW to the D10 to HNL (stops in LAX). Across from this gate the flights to NRT and KIX are boarding.

DTW (LAX) HNL
D10 is just full, with several non-revs in F/C. This is a problem because of their behavior. These yahoos spend the entire flight at their seats with a kaffeeklatch of other employees (to their credit, not the flight attendants), pouring rum from the bottle they brought on board (I am not exaggerating), and the culmination, trying to use their Sprint PCS phone 45 minutes before landing to see if they would be able to get on the flight out to HNL. There were no phones on this flight, but I didn't want to make a scene. I thought that was illegal...I'll be writing a letter. Choice of salad or open faced BBQ chicken sandwich for lunch, ice cream. In on time to an announcement "Will all non-revenue pax exit the plane bringing their belongings". These women were pretty evidently not inflight personnel, but they were really excessively boisterous.

Off to the RCC for the party before the party--didn't have much time to visit because Newself and I have to go back to NW to get on the plane.

We are among the last on and who is sitting ahead of us--the yahoos! They recognize me and want to have a conversation (NOT!) Having just shook my head about this to Newself, what should happen but the minute the seatbelt sign came off, Yahoo 1 leaned the seat back into his lap, with a giggly "Hi". After glaring at her for a bit, she put the seat to a more appropriate position. Choice btwn chicken and beef, more ice cream. I think NW does a really good job with flavoring things on the plane--much more flavorful menu items (with more interesting combinations) than UA.

In on time, Newself and I wait in the CO President's Club for the PIP Express.

The weekend was a bit of a blur, but it was great fun being with so many like-minded folks (Hi Karen and Einar). I stayed at the Moana Sheraton--very nice if small room (what can you ask for for $132).

Sunday, got up leisurely for breakfast, then rented a car for the day (my flt is not until 950pm). Wandered around Oahu in the rain http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif, saw a car accident in Aiea, did some shopping at Ala Moana, etc etc.

NW HNL-SEA
Again, flight nearly full. Killed an hour between the NW and CO clubs (they are next to each other). NW is more businesslike and a bit stark, CO, more plush with better food). Left on time, tried to sleep (only mishap was upsetting a glass of water on the seat next to me while the gentleman was up at the washroom. He put the blanket down and wasn't bothered. Arrived a few minutes early to see the Aeroflot plane to Moscow just getting ready to take off.

Hertz rental car was waiting (Corolla)

Phase 2 to come.

Nice trip report!

Checked in at the LaQuinta just down the street from the airport--they let me in at 6 am (this is why I like LaQ). Anyway, took a nap and set off in the late AM for Vancouver--I had only been at the airport so wanted to wander around. Headed up I-5 through Bellingham--I spent a couple of hours antiquing there. I was really impressed with B'ham--enough to want to visit for a longer period of time. The border guard said something to the effect of "mighty far to go, isn't it." I thought it not wise to say "yeah, and stamp my passport please http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif"

Vancouver is interesting--I want to spend more time there. Wandered through some interesting funky sections and an interesting sporting goods co-op (I gather it is like REI, only harder core). Drove back to the LaQ.

Next AM decide I want to drive to Mt. Rainier. Check out of LaQ in hopes of staying in the park at the lodge. Head off through the park to get to Yakima on the other side. All roads are open, but some excitement with the snow above about 4500 feet (saw one person who had run off the road. Scenery is absolutely breathtaking--a really wonderful place. On the other side of the mtns it is a completely different ecosystem--high desert, actually. I had heard from a friend who was there on business that Yakima was dusty, dry and unpleasant. She was right. Nothing else to be said for YKM except that there were Continental aircraft doing touch-and-goes at the airport (at least that is what I think they were doing)...when I first saw the plane landing, I thought "uh oh", but not 5 mins later it took off (literally not enough time to taxi to a hangar).

Called the lodge from YKM at about 2 pm, to be told that they have 1 room left, and they thought it would be available, but wouldn't take a credit card number in case I didn't show up. She said "you have to take the long way around b/c the road is closed". I assumed this meant because of weather, and I had been on the more-dramatic drive already, so I headed out. 1 hr 15 later, I hit the turnoff for the short-cut. 15 mins later, it turns out it is closed for construction, not for weather, and they don't have it posted until you are right on it. Backtrack and go. Unfortunately, it is getting dark, and I had read somewhere that they close the roads in the dark (the agent had already warned me that the dining room closed at 7 pm sharp). I get to the park gates at about 545pm, with about 15 miles more to go, to find no one there and it posted that the road is closed 6 miles up (due to darkness). Drat, drat, so I head back to Tacoma. Stay at the Holiday Inn Xpress there--nice place with a better lobby than I've ever seen in a cheap roadside place--one of those water sculptures really is just right for the lobby. She puts me in a room that has someone's stuff in it. She's apologetic and gives me the handicapped room which is fine.

Wed AM I go to DT Tacoma to sightsee--decide the WA state museum is too expensive for a quick trip, so do some more antiquing and head back to the airport.

Hertz checkin went fine (805 miles !!!). Go into World Club--at SEA is about the best there is, I think. Interesting--it is open 19 hours/day (open 6a-1a)

Flight not very full (A320, full in f/c, only about 50 in coach). After we are seated, they bring up a pax from the back (no idea why). Chicken or beef (excellent chicken w/couscous and steamed cabbage and carrot), with brown ice cream from their local creamery (it could have been chocolate, but the label said "root beer float" flavor--it was delicious!). In early to MSP (tailwinds). World club is bustling but not bad, they have brownies and the ice tea stuff to nibble on. Flt to ORD is similar (full in first, nearly empty in back).

Ranger pickup from Budget (best deal going at $19 with Saturday stay--even in expensive cities)

More work on the house--the realtor comes tomorrow.

JL

Jamie,

I didn't read in your trip report that you called Punki or DTTB while in Seattle? I am sure that they will let you hear about it! You also missed a lot of other good folks up there, Mileage Addict, QuietLion, Hunnybear, Travelweary, to name a few.

I spent a lot of time in Bellingham this last year and it is a great little town. I managed to find most of the watering holes while there.

Glad that you enjoyed the NW WorldClub in SEA. That was the club that we all met in last August. I enjoyed our flight from LAX-HNL except for the yahoo who insisted in sitting in my lap via the front seat.

See you on the next FT get together somewhere soon!

Newself, I did so much windshield time that I didn't get much else done! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif.

Jamiel: Ooooohhh...you ARE in trouble with us Northwesterners now! I live 1 hour from Mt. Rainier, have an annual pass, and stay at the other lodge (Paradise which is closed for the season) at least once a year. It is my favorite place on earth (and I've lived in Hawaii, Alaska and Europe). I could have provided at the very least lots of free, possibly unwanted, advice. Next time, give us an excuse for an impromptu Seattle get-together please.

Hi, Jamiel! I notice you omitted the highlight of the Friday dinner (inside joke!). It was fun meeting you also and, had I known you were heading for Vancouver, I could have loaded you up with advice also! Lived there 20 yrs ago and visit occasionally. Ah, well. Bellingham must have changed since its time as the Canadian housewife's shopping center. Those would have been my smuggling days...

I can't believe you took the red eye (as we intended until we saw the Sunday rain) and missed the tennis match! That was the only reason we were going to leave late. See you next time!